Ellis Burton Goodloe

Ellis Burton Goodloe passed away peacefully December 8, 2015. He was born June 10, 1936, to Aariel Ellis and Marguerite Hart Goodloe in Chattanooga, Tennessee. Ellis was an accomplished athlete and business leader. He was a retired Vice President of National Life and Accident Insurance Company.

Ellis attended Chattanooga’s Baylor School, graduating in 1955. He served as the football team captain and was a remarkable sprinter in high school . Several of his sprint records are still in place at Baylor. He was considered the second fastest prep student in the country and was recruited by The University of Florida. While attending Florida, Ellis was the leading scorer of the track team for three years, won numerous major events, captured an SEC 100-yard dash title, ran on three SEC championship relay teams, was a member of the 1956 SEC Championship team, and was invited to participate in the 1956 Olympic Trials.

After graduation from Florida, Ellis began his career in the insurance business quickly being promoted to a position at the home office of National Life in Nashville. He proudly served for many years as a reservist in the United State Marine Corps. He was a Golden Legion member of the Phi Delta Theta Fraternity. Ellis was inducted into the Baylor School Athletic Hall of Fame, The University of Florida Athletic Hall of Fame. and the Chattanooga Old Timers Hall of Fame. After retirement he enjoyed travel, officiating college track meets and participating in frequent fishing expeditions with his friends. Attending Florida football games with his lifelong teammates from the Florida Track and Field team was something he also regularly enjoyed. He served on the boards of Baylor School and The Hillsborough Homeowners Association.

Ellis could be found holding court daily with his friends debating the merits of conservative politics, the superiority of Florida athletics and academics, and correcting historical fact and fiction whenever given the opportunity. Ellis possessed an eternal optimism, a kindhearted wit, a generous spirit, a fierce loyalty to his friends, a charismatic personality evident to his coworkers, a strong pride for his children, a playful and loving demeanor with his grandchildren, and a deep admiration for the love of his life, Martha.

Ellis was preceded in death by his parents and his twin brother, Dr. Robert A. Goodloe of Soddy Daisy, TN. He is survived by his devoted wife of fifty-five years, Martha Patton Goodloe; his daughter, Elizabeth Mills Goodloe; two sons, Michael Burton Goodloe and Ellis (Emily) Graham Goodloe; four granddaughters, Regan Isabelle Goodloe, Grace Marguerite Goodloe, Audrey Ellise Goodloe and Ella Ruth Goodloe. He is also survived by two sisters, Anne Jones Wheeler of Dunlap, TN and Carroll Jones Shipley of Chattanooga, TN.

A private family service will be held in Chattanooga at a later date. A celebration of life will be held on January 30th at the clubhouse of The Hillsborough Condominiums at 330 Ardsley Place Nashville TN 37215. Please RSVP by emailing GoodloeFamily2012@gmail.com or by calling 615-419-8038.

The family would like to express their heartfelt thanks to those who were touched by Ellis who have reached out to offer comfort. The family would also like to recognize Southern Care Assisted Living of Franklin and Adoration Hospice for the loving care given to Ellis in his final days. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to A Soldier’s Child Foundation.

Condolence Messages

Ellis was a fine man and a good friend. We laughed at times yet could enjoy a business conversation as well. He taught me quite a bit about Southern history and it made him quite happy when I told him look what I found on the internet…Your track records to show your friends…I will forever remember his kindness and love of his family.

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